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Inland rail on the election agenda

A commitment by both sides of politics to set up an inland rail network through NSW has been welcomed by the Parkes mayor.

Nationals Leader Warren Truss has today announced that the inland rail from Melbourne to Brisbane will be a priority under a Coalition government.

Mr Truss says that while there's been talk surrounding the inland rail over many years, we've reached a time for action.

The Coalition's commitment of $300 million for delivering this rail line, matches a similar commitment from the ALP.

Parkes mayor Ken Keith has been looking at both the Coalition and the Labor plan.

He says he's glad that the issue of inland rail is finally at the top of the agenda and that both sides of the political fence have allocated $300 million.

Mr Keith says that, as both project are very similar and both sides of politics have allocated around the same sort of money, he cannot favour one plan over the other.

"The inland will open up western New South Wales and is essential infrastructure for dealing with the freight task ahead of us.

"Our freight task is set to double over the next ten years, and we need to ease the burdens on our highways.

"A rail link from Melbourne to Brisbane through inland New South Wales would cut nine hours from the current route. This move makes economic sense."

Mr Keith says with freight volumes set to double by 2020, and triple by 2050, the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail will provide enhanced and complementary transport in agriculture for grain, livestock and wool.

He says it will facilitate regional development and reduce the cost of moving both regional and national freight.

He says moving freight by rail is estimated to be nine times safer than road freight.

Mr Keith says in both the ALP model and the Coalition models, Parkes is a hub for the inland rail network and this will be a massive boost for the town.